The man convicted of assassinating former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has apologised to the victim's family in court for the first time. Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, expressed deep remorse to Abe's widow, Akie, and other family members during a hearing at the Nara District Court on Thursday.
Yamagami said he felt 'deeply sorry' for the suffering he caused, adding that he had 'no ill will whatsoever' towards Abe. He was arrested at the scene of the shooting in July 2022 after using a homemade gun to kill the former premier during an election campaign speech in Nara.
The assassination shocked Japan, a country with strict gun control laws and low crime rates. Yamagami previously pleaded guilty, stating his motive was a grudge against Abe for his support of the Unification Church, which Yamagami blamed for his family's bankruptcy after his mother made massive donations to the organisation.
Yamagami's lawyer has argued for a reduced sentence, claiming the handmade weapon does not fall under Japan's Firearms and Swords Control Act. The case has also prompted an investigation into the Unification Church, which was ordered to disband in March but has vowed to appeal.
Abe's widow attended the hearing on Wednesday but was not present when Yamagami made his apology. She sat in the second row of the prosecution's side, listening to the proceedings.
